Raavin Evans was born May 23, 1990 in Dal-las, Texas to Kent and Linda Evans, who has been her biggest support system and source of inspiration. Amongst the many disturbances in her life, which she now consid-ers blessings, it was the lost of her family’s stability where she finds ammunition for her daily ambition; this difficult time in her life not only taught her the true meaning of family and love, but she also learned about perseverance, devotion and faith. Raavin is a Senior at Spelman College where she is studying Political Science with a pre-law concentration. After successfully graduating from Spelman College, she plans to continue her service to her commu-nity by becoming an educator. She plans to later attend

law school. Her final plans are to become a congresswoman in hopes to influence policies surrounding urban education.

During her time here at Spelman College, Raavin enjoys forging lasting relationships, along with developing leadership skills. She served as a mentor in the LEADS pilot Wal-Mart Leadership Schol-ars Program, and participated in the LEADS Coca-Cola/Spelman College Leadership Mentoring Program. In recognition of her academic accomplishments, she is a part of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program of Spelman College; she is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the National Society of Colle-giate Scholars and Golden Key International Honor Society which she has held a leadership position in, and a member of Gamma Lambda chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha the national political science honor society. Priceless opportunities such as these have helped Raavin develop into the career minded, determined young lady she is today.

Raavin is an advocate for giving back to the community, which she believes is not only important but essential to ensuring the community continues to thrive. Raavin actualizes her dedication to service by volun-teering at the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children and she is a Spelman College Ambassador.

Introducing Miss Spelman College 2011-2012: Raavin Evans

Miss Spelman Newsletter

Inside This

Issue:

Miss Deloris Wilson,

1st Attendant to Miss

Spelman College

2

Miss Margaret Armoo-

Daniels, 2nd

Attendant to Miss

3

Lending a Helping

Hand

3

Pj’s and Pearls 4

Miss Spelman

Advisory Board

4

Issue 1 September 2011

UNITED WE LOVE: Giving our Hearts to the Homeless‖ is an initiative designed to benefit both those who are displaced and those who have the means to help those individuals. This platform seeks to assist those precious often forgotten individuals who are without homes and do not have the means to obtain a home, to reach self-sufficiency as well as restore their confidence. The programs that this platform embodies will be implemented through a series of events through collaboration with several of the local shelters, community members and the Spelman community, with special projects for Registered School Organizations.

The Beginning: Each activity will be properly documented, as a way to track our impact and involvement Professional Development Workshops and Classes ( i.e. GED assistance, resume reconstructing, mock

interviews, financial literacy classes, etc.). Registered school organizations adopt a shelter. ―Help the homeless day‖ Spelman Students volunteer at a shelter Continuous campus wide clothing drive for professional clothes and a

community wide Homeless relief fund (monetary donations).

Following The Special Training: A career fair for the individuals (Representatives from an array of

corporations, which have agreed that they will hire qualified individuals.)

―Beating the odds‖ – Tyler Perry

After receipt of a job, the individuals will receive business professional outfits. ―Starting Over‖- Assist one individual/family obtain an apartment, with first month’s rent paid.

―I hope that at the end of the program, individuals are more willing to help the homeless, and their compassion toward this issue will be restored; it is not fair nor is it humane to deny a homeless person dignity, a second chance, or respect.‖

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“My charge to the community is: dare to become a keeper of our brothers and

sisters”

1st Attendant to Miss Spelman College: Deloris Wilson Miss Deloris Catherine Wilson was born on November 16, 1990 to her caring parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen and Gail Wil-son. After spending her growing years in Birmingham, AL, Deloris entered Spelman College as a Bonner Scholar and was invited to become a member of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program. During her first se-mester, she assumed her place on the Dean’s List, where she remains with a 3.92

grade point average.

Since her very first step onto Spel-man’s campus, Deloris has been actively involved in public service, forging her commit-ment to servant leadership. Her involvement includes serving as a Student Ambassador, Student Orientation Leader, Wal-Mart Leader-ship Scholars Mentor, Community Impact Intern for the Bonner Office of Community Service, Co-founder and Co-President of the

Spelman Student United Way, and a 2011 graduate of the

Women of Excellence in Leadership Series.

While studying abroad in Accra, Ghana, Deloris learned of the tremendous inhumanity of trafficking human beings in this modern age. Her volunteer experience with City of Refuge Minis-tries, internship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and service with the Juvenile Justice Fund has inspired her platform entitled, ―STOP Traffick! A Campaign to End Child Sexual Exploitation.‖ Her platform aims to educate, in-form, and advocate for both the decrease in sup-ply and demand of commercial sexual exploitation

of children in Atlanta and abroad.

Deloris aims to mature as a servant-leader and inspire her Spelman sisters to become actively involved in both domestic and interna-tional social issues. After earning both a JD and Masters in Public Policy, Deloris hopes to be be-come an avid force in policy development and

implementation.

Miss Spelman Newsletter Issue 1, Page 2

Stop Traffick! A Campaign to End the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of

Children

With approximately 400 young girls trafficked each month throughout Atlanta, GA, we must act to ensure that our community is aware and active in combating the issue of child sexual exploitation. At an average age of 11-14, these young girls are at a crucial time in their development. As women of Spelman College it is our duty to help educate and advocate so that they may be rescued

and rehabilitated. This platform is comprised of a two-prong approach to combat this issue:

1. “Worthy Woman Campaign”

Series of educational presentations on sex trafficking in Atlanta

Girls at local middle and high schools will be encouraged to value their self-worth and potential while being exposed to their personal power and professional opportunities

Presentations will also discuss the personal risk associated with sex trafficking, as well as ways to recognize preda-tors and havens for help

Spelman Students will be asked to make donations to provide care packages for victims at a local safe haven (i.e. Tapestri) 2. “Dear John” Campaign

Reflective of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s model, this campaign will seek to raise community awareness and accountabil-

ity for public officials “We will be advocating to increase funding to agencies that work with trafficked children and more severe punishment for predators

through a community walk or arts awareness event to raise awareness and support.”

2nd Attendant to Miss Spelman College: Margaret Armoo-Daniels

Margaret Armoo-Daniels was born in Brooklyn, New York to Ghanaian parents. After spending a couple years in the Bronx, Margaret and her family moved to Worcester, Massachusetts—home of the Oread Institute, the famous alma mater of our dear founders, Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles, and our namesake, Laura Spelman. Margaret attended St. Peter-Marian Catholic High School where she thrived academically in rigorous honors and advanced placement courses and graduated at the top of her class, a member of the Thomas More Chapter of Na-tional Honor Society, and was voted Homecoming Queen—the first African-American young lady to be bestowed with this honor at her predominantly white high school. Margaret joined the Spelman sisterhood August 2008, a defining choice that changed Margaret’s life. The Spelman experi-ence has developed and refined this woman tremendously, and most important, allowed her to realize and define her goals, passions, and purpose with certainty and clarity. The signature Spelman freshman course, ADW, exposed Margaret to the idea of stories and the importance of controlling and protecting how one’s story or culture is

communicated and the ramifications of how is it portrayed. In Fall 2010, Margaret traveled to Ghana, West Africa with the NYU in Ghana study abroad program and learned about her own family history, the African Diaspora, and her unique position as a African-American, Ghanaian-American, and a woman, anywhere. Margaret is a Ron H. Brown Law Scholar, a unique professional prep program sponsored by St. John’s University School of Law and the UNCF that propels aspiring attorneys into the legal profession armed with the knowledge and skills necessary for success. Her hometown, Worcester, Massachusetts is home to over 25,000 Ghanaian immigrants and their children among other African immigrants. Margaret credits this back-ground as the source of her passion for sustaining communities and love for contemporary African culture. Margaret hopes to attend law school upon graduating from Spelman and eventually going into transactional law on both a domestic and international level with the vested interest of supporting African music, entertain-ment, and business ventures that encourage innovation and communication across the Diaspora.

Miss Spelman Newsletter Issue 1, Page 3

This platform is aimed towards eradicating illiteracy. The "danger of a single story" speaks not only to the obvious connotation of a scarcity of books and reading materials, but also the harm that result when there is only one story, or voice, of a people. Through empowering Ghanaians with education, her hope is that many different voices across the socioeconomic spectrum, as well as the Dias-pora, will be unearthed and sustained. - Ghana has one of the largest global Diasporas of any African nation with Ghanaian citizens and their direct descendants living in other African nations, Europe, Asia, and the United States. - Education is definitely the most powerful tool for social mobility in the nation of Ghana. - The issue of illiteracy is one that can be complicated by the issue of gender. While studying abroad in Ghana Fall 2010, she interviewed female sex workers in the historic town of Cape Coast. These women expressed that they had no choice but to sell their bodies, to foreign tourists and even Ghanaian university students. Some female sex workers as young as eleven would echo the same laments of the old women in the business, that had they had edu-cation, they may have had other choices. Prostitution is a pervasive problem in Ghana. - Ghana has such a rich history and culture, ancient rituals right through contemporary pop culture. I believe that more comprehensive, wide-spread literacy would help the people of Ghana understand that their experiences and stories have value and power. By realizing the danger of succumbing to a single story and encouraging actions that foster literacy, education, empowerment and community, the Ghanaian nation, Diaspora, and black people every-where would be positively impacted. ―My main goal of my Year of Service is to help the Share

Foundation of Ghana build their second library in the fishing town of Tema.”

The Danger of a Single Story:

"Lending a Helping Hand," Miss Spelman and Her Courts first community service event of the year brought together a small portion of the Spelman student body to give back to the West End commu-nity. On Sunday October 17, 2011, students gathered food and hygiene products for young men and women and set up a table right outside of the West End Marta station. This was the kickoff event for Raavin Evans' platform 'United We Love Giving Our Hearts to the Homeless.' Ms. Evans' inspiration for this event spurred from her interaction with numerous individuals throughout Atlanta who have asked her for spare change and food. She has noted that there are numerous adults who have asked her for assistance with basic necessities for their children. "This is our way to directly go in and help those in our community, they do not necessarily need to be homeless -- they can be anyone," says Evans. A group of approximately 20 students joined Raavin to distribute the goods. Students trav-eled on foot reaching out to anyone they passed from Collegetown to the West End train station. "Overall, the community was very receptive to our efforts," commented one volun-teer. "There are so many women with young children who were grateful to receive free food, and men who were grateful to receive something as simple as deodorant and a razor. It made me realize that every little bit helps," she continued. "Lending a Helping Hand" was a success in several aspects. The students efforts not only assisted in giving back to the institutions neighboring community, but also helped to raise money to contribute to Ms. Evans' platform which will successfully find housing for a home-less family by the end of the school year. The money was raised to be put towards the first month's rent of a currently homeless family. The students involved expressed how touched they were to serve the community in a very personal way.

L e n d i n g A H e l p i n g H a n dL e n d i n g A H e l p i n g H a n dL e n d i n g A H e l p i n g H a n d

PJ’s and Pearls: Miss Spelman and Her Court

Spend an Evening with the Class of 2015

On August 31, 2011 Miss Spelman and Her Court successfully hosted their very first event 'Pajamas & Pearls'; a pillow talk for the first year students. Approximately 150 students, dressed in pajamas, at-tended the event, with hopes of be-coming better acquainted with Miss Spelman and Her Court while also receiving valuable insight and advice as they begin their college careers. The event was hosted in collaboration

with PINK Nation and Spelman's PINK representatives Danielle Tidline and Anita Sheares who contributed to the evening bringing tons of free giveaways for the first year students. With the aroma of popcorn and cotton candy lingering in the air, the enthusias-tic group of freshmen gathered in the Living and Learning Center auditorium to engage in an intimate conversation with the institutions leading ladies. Students were able to submit questions anonymously. Together, Raavin Evans, Deloris Wilson and Margaret Armoo-Daniels provided their perspectives on everything from managing finances while at Spelman to engaging in relationships while in the Atlanta University Center. To maintain a lighthearted atmosphere, Miss Spelman and her Court played several interactive games with their younger Spelman sisters, hosted sing-a-longs on stage and even taught one another how to 'wobble!' Second attendant Miss. Margaret Armoo-

Daniels explains her main goal and expectations in hosting Pajamas & Pearls: "I feel like we did a really good job of welcoming our Spelman sisters and I hope that we effectively expressed to the freshman class that we are open and approachable." As the evening filled with delicious food and fun came to an end it was evident that the students were overcome with a new sense of vigor. Those who entered the room apprehensively left with large smiles and a new friend or two, and all of the students left with the gratification of having experienced, first hand, the joys of the Spelman sisterhood. "I was completely humbled by the turnout," continued Armoo-Daniels, "and I pray that we can maintain a close relationship with the class of 2015. Hopefully we helped to facilitate a positive and smooth transi-tion from High School to their new home here at Spelman."

Breyon Dixon— Chief of Staff

Natasha Abellard—Assistant Chief of Staff

Rukiya Anthony—Social Secretary

Tiffany Solomon—Assistant Social Secretary

Lauren Taylor—Co-Protocol Manager

Laini Davis—Co-Protocol Manager

Sharyn Dougherty—Co-Events Coordinator

Kayla Lane—Co-Events Coordinator

Ciara Williams—Co-Events Coordinator

Crystal Sanders—Special Events Director

Imani Finley—Special Events Director

Kelsey Fox—Co-Publicity Chair

Jalethea Howard—Co-Publicity Chair

Zaire Love—Coronation Director

Martina Young—Assistant Coronation Director

Kendra Mells—Personal Attendant to Miss Spelman

Earyn Edwards—Personal Attendant to 1st Attendant

Stephanie Deltor—Personal Attendant to 2nd Attendant

Miss Spelman and Her Court answer questions

from the Class of 2015

Miss Spelman Advisory Board—Who We Are and What We Do!